journal
The national road is narrow, with only two lanes, and they are two-way roads; when a car breaks down and stops, it occupies one side of the road.
"What's going on?" Yu Fan asked, slightly flustered.
"Don't panic," Lin Changren said, quickly regaining his composure after a moment of confusion. "It's probably a problem with the engine."
Novice driver Zhu Shiyi had never seen anything like this before and was at a loss for what to do: "Try starting it again?"
Pan Yue listened to the advice and tried to start the engine again, but it made one sound and then failed to start at all.
With heavy traffic, the car behind, unaware of the situation, honked impatiently.
Zhu Shiyi: "Am I the one who caused the traffic accident?"
Pan Yue turned his head and ruffled her hair, instructing, "Sit still in the car."
He opened the door and got out of the car. Immediately, other car owners rolled down their windows to ask what was wrong. Pan Yue briefly explained that the car wouldn't start, apologized to the other car owners, and then opened the trunk to take his luggage out.
Seeing this, Lin Changren also got out of the car and, together with Pan Yue, took out the suitcases and pulled out the warning triangle from the bottom of the trunk. They placed it behind the car and explained to the drivers behind them, guiding them to change lanes as soon as possible and to pay attention to oncoming vehicles.
Seeing that it wasn't appropriate to just stand by and watch, Zhu Shiyi and Yu Fan got out of the car as well: "Is there anything we can do to help?"
"It's cold outside," Pan Yue said, pulling her trench coat tighter around herself. "It's fine to sit in the car."
Zhu Shiyi shook her head: "I'm not cold."
Pan Yue smiled slightly and pondered for a moment: "You and Yu Fan upload the traffic accident information to the navigation system to warn the cars behind to prepare in advance."
Zhu Shiyi agreed and turned on his phone, but the signal was not good and the network was very slow, so he guessed he could only make phone calls.
Pan Yue: "There's a guesthouse across the street. Go in and borrow some Wi-Fi."
Zhu Shiyi then noticed and pulled Yu Fan to the guesthouse. The guesthouse was small, and there was only a local-looking young man in the lobby. After listening to their story, he generously gave them the WIFI password and even made them two cups of hot water.
The climate on the plateau is changeable, with large temperature differences between day and night. During the day, the sun is scorching hot, making people feel unbearably hot; but at night, the wind is chilly, making people shiver.
Zhu Shiyi took a small sip of water and whispered to Yu Fan, "I'm going to bring Pan Yue some water."
Yu Fan had the same idea. Feeling embarrassed to trouble the guesthouse staff any further, they took their water and ran outside to give it to Lin Changren and Pan Yue: "Drink it while it's hot."
Pan Yue took a sip of the water Zhu Shiyi fed him and then gestured for her to drink the rest. A knowledgeable driver by the roadside, seeing the road was blocked, came to help check the car.
"The car has been resting for so long, try starting the engine again," a kind passerby suggested.
Pan Yue tried to start the car again. It started, but he still couldn't turn it on. At least he could see the gauges; the water tank temperature was too high. Fortunately, it was probably not a problem with the engine.
An older man helped pry open the hood of the car, and Zhu Shiyi also went over to take a look. The man opened the car's radiator, and the water gushed out due to the high temperature, splashing out with a hissing sound. She was so frightened that she instinctively covered her face and screamed.
Pan Yue instinctively reached out to shield Zhu Shiyi, and a few drops of water splashed onto the back of his hand.
"The water temperature is a bit high!" The uncle accidentally got scalded.
Lin Changren immediately took a wet wipe from the car and handed it to the uncle: "Here, wipe yourself, brother."
Zhu Shiyi then noticed the red spots on the back of Pan Yue's hand and quickly blew on them, asking, "Does it hurt?"
"It's alright." Pan Yue gave him a reassuring look, then asked Lin Changren for a wet wipe to cool down his hands.
The middle-aged man jumped away quickly and wasn't seriously injured: "Did you guys bring coolant?"
“No,” Pan Yue frowned slightly, “This situation has never occurred before. It was an oversight.”
"The temperature difference on the plateau is large, and with the traffic jams and frequent stops, the car can easily overheat. Without adding coolant to the radiator, it definitely won't start," the uncle's analysis sounded very professional. "Do you have any bottled water? Add some."
"Yes, yes." Zhu Shiyi went to the car to get it, but adding two bottles of mineral water was still to no avail.
"There's not enough water; we need at least a few more liters," the uncle said.
Yu Fan: "But we're out of water!"
The man was in a bit of a predicament, but fortunately, the surrounding car owners were very helpful. Upon hearing his situation, one of the men immediately brought his own coolant. The problem was, even after filling the coolant tank, the engine still wouldn't start.
Having exhausted all other options, Pan Yue had no choice but to seek help from the insurance company. He called to inquire, and the final result was that a tow truck was dispatched from Yushan, but depending on the road conditions, it would take at least two hours.
The planned relaxing trip was unexpectedly disrupted, but instead of feeling disappointed by the ruined plans, everyone comforted each other, no one complained, and they took it all in stride, even experiencing a strange and unique feeling. Yu Fan excitedly pulled Lin Changren to take pictures, while Zhu Shiyi leisurely enjoyed the starry sky and moon with Pan Yue for a while.
"Are you hungry?" Pan Yue put his arm around her shoulder.
Zhu Shiyi shook his head: "It's alright."
I'm a little hungry, but I can bear it. "And you?"
"I'm fine too."
Pan Yue took a box of her favorite matcha cookies from the car. Zhu Shiyi ate one, then fed one to Pan Yue, before suddenly sneezing. Pan Yue's gaze sharpened, and he told her to get in the car.
"No," Zhu Shiyi said, feeling that the air outside was nice, and put her hand into his pocket. "This way I won't be cold."
Pan Yue covered her hand and rubbed it, but it didn't help. Zhu Shiyi decided to jump around a bit to generate heat. After jumping around a couple of times, she covered her chest and felt stuffy.
"The altitude is high, so avoid strenuous exercise." Pan Yue brought her an oxygen tank to breathe.
"It's not too intense," Zhu Shiyi retorted with a pout.
Yu Fan and Lin Changren were probably hungry, so they went to the car to find something to eat. Yu Fan was probably cold, so he wrapped his scarf around his neck.
"Why don't you go to the guesthouse across the street and get something to eat?" Pan Yue invited them.
“Yes, you can go ahead, it’s warm inside,” Lin Changren said.
Yu Fan: "Can't we go together?"
Pan Yue: "Someone needs to keep an eye on this."
Zhu Shiyi couldn't bear to abandon Pan Yue: "It's alright, we can eat later after we've settled in."
"Oh, you guys go ahead!" Lin Changren said firmly, turning to push Yu Fan, "I'll take you there."
Watching them walk away, Pan Yue raised his chin, gesturing for Zhu Shiyi to follow. Zhu Shiyi pursed her lips, took off her scarf, and tied it around Pan Yue's neck.
“…I don’t need it, you can wear it.” Pan Yue tried to pull off the scarf, but his eyes darted away and he blinked repeatedly, looking somewhat uncomfortable.
"There's heating inside, so you can wear it!" Zhu Shiyi jumped back two steps, turned around to look at the man wearing the cream-colored woolen scarf, and found it very incongruous, making her want to laugh.
......
It was getting late, and the guesthouse was out of food, so Zhu Shiyi and Yu Fan bought two boxes of instant noodles to eat, and also made two boxes for the two men outside.
The tow truck traveled over a hundred miles to arrive, only to discover that it was not just towing the car, but also four people.
"There are only two people sitting in the front of my car at most!" the driver said, somewhat embarrassed.
Zhu Shiyi asked, puzzled, "Can't you just tow our car to your car while we're in our own?"
The master clicked his tongue: "That's dangerous!" But his tone didn't sound like a refusal.
Lin Changren: "But there's nothing we can do, the car just won't start."
Yu Fan also said kindly, "You've come all this way, it's been so hard and troublesome, please make an exception for us."
The master sighed, neither agreeing nor refusing.
“Master,” Pan Yue pursed his lips and said in a low voice, “we will pay some extra money, not through the official account, but as your personal account.”
The master's eyes softened slightly: "I'll be taking a risk if you do this."
Pan Yue: "We'll lie down if we encounter a roadside checkpoint, so as not to cause you any trouble."
The driver relented, and Pan Yue seized the opportunity to finalize the price, offering an extra thousand yuan to solve the passenger transport problem.
Having accepted the bribe, the mechanic was very responsible. The car's engine wouldn't start and it remained in Park with the wheels completely still. Instead of using a tow rope to pull it, he tied on the training wheels, and all the problems were solved in a hardcore way.
On the "double-decker bus" created by the trailer, Lin Changren was feeling unwell due to altitude sickness, so he sat in the front reclined seat. Pan Yue gave the other front seat to Ms. Yu Fan, while he and Zhu Shiyi sat in the back.
The mountain forest was shrouded in darkness and mist. The mountain roads and national highways were uneven and bumpy. I thought he would be picky about his sleeping environment, but the day's toil and unexpected fatigue were so hypnotic that Zhu Shiyi fell asleep leaning on Pan Yue's shoulder. Occasionally, the car would jolt him awake for a moment, but Pan Yue would immediately soothe him back to sleep with his hand.
If accidents are as unpredictable as the weather on the plateau, then positive and warm hearts are like bridges in rivers that are not afraid of being crossed, like flags made of piled stones that are not afraid of being blown by the wind, and like the snow on the summit of a sacred mountain that never melts. With hope in one's heart, one is at peace, and even in the darkest night, one can break through the clouds and finally see the light.
......
In his sleep, Zhu Shiyi felt himself being shaken twice.
"Wake up and lie down, there might be a check-up."
Zhu Shiyi immediately woke up, lay on Pan Yue's lap, and leaned back on the seat.
Yu Fan: "What kind of examination is this?"
Pan Yue: I don't know, the driver didn't take the highway, so it should be fine.
"Holy crap, this is so exciting!" Lin Changren exclaimed excitedly.
Zhu Shiyi couldn't see anything except a beam of light, which seemed to be shining through the car window. She quickly shrank her neck and became very docile.
The flashlight's white light disappeared, the vehicle resumed driving, and everyone breathed a sigh of relief; those who were going to sleep went back to sleep.
Zhu Shiyi, however, perked up and hugged Pan Yue's arm tightly: "Aren't you going to sleep for a while?" She tried to keep her voice down so as not to disturb the two people resting in the front row.
"Go to sleep." Pan Yue stroked her head, and Zhu Shiyi snuggled up to him.
“I’m not sleepy,” she sat up straight and patted her shoulder. “You can lean on me and sleep for a while.”
Pan Yue paused for a second, then smiled and lowered his eyes.
Zhu Shiyi had no intention of engaging in any more pushing and shoving with him. She forcefully pulled Pan Yue into her arms, patted his head, and gently hummed a lullaby like she was coaxing a child: "Sleep, sleep~"
Pan Yue stopped resisting, found a comfortable position, and his breathing gradually became steady.
Looking at the dark circles under his eyes, Zhu Shiyi couldn't help but reach out and stroke them, then smoothed out his habitually furrowed brows, feeling a pang of heartache.
Tonight's unexpected incident was clearly out of control, but he never panicked or complained. Instead, he quickly devised a strategy, made arrangements, took responsibility, and silently resolved everything on his own.
Pan Yue's body was broad, solid, and reassuring; he was so powerful in the face of the unexpected.
At this moment, Zhu Shiyi hugged Anxin tightly, and an extraordinary warmth filled her heart. She wanted to give the person who made others feel at ease a sense of security.
I've never thought that way before.
I really want to.
The mountain road winds and twists, just like Pan Yue's love—not straightforward or decisive, but meandering and steady. Slowly and steadily, it resolutely crosses mountains and valleys, carrying his longing on the wind, delivering it to her again and again, pure and untainted, surging yet restrained, leading her to open it and see that it is forever clear and passionate.
It wasn't easy for them to come together, and Zhu Shiyi couldn't help but open her phone, wanting to take another look at their photo together.
In the video, the girl holds a large hand tightly, her head turned towards the man looking at her, smiling as she faces forward. Around them are snow-capped mountains, white clouds, blue skies, and green fields; a babbling brook nourishes all things, connecting the gentle breeze with the mountains and rivers, supporting her and him.
"I yearn for the gentle breeze and the mountains and rivers."
"In the past, it stood between you and me, separating our bodies, allowing only the wind to carry messages between our hearts. It was an obstacle, but also a test; it strengthened our hearts."
"Now, in a way, it is still between you and me, but it can no longer hold us back. No matter how great it is, it cannot compare to our world."
"In our world, the breeze and mountains are the backdrop of love. They support and nourish love, becoming our memories, wrapped in the palms of our hands."
At midnight on October 29th this year, Zhu Shiyi wrote the following in his phone's memo app.
--
The car was taken to a 4S shop for repairs. The group took their belongings from the car and booked a hotel on the spot, with the two couples each staying in a room.
Lin Changren's altitude sickness was quite severe today. Even though we had changed cities, Yu Fan was still worried and specially brought two oxygen cylinders. He kept one for himself and handed the other to Zhu Shiyi, carefully instructing her to keep it by the bedside where she could easily reach it.
Zhu Shiyi didn't pay much attention, but it was just a matter of convenience. As soon as she got back to her room, she put the oxygen in before lying down on the bed.
Pan Yue took a shower first; the sound of running water was like white noise, soothing to the senses. Having not slept enough on the train, Zhu Shiyi fell asleep as soon as she touched the soft cot. When she woke up again, the room was completely dark.
She reached out and touched it. Yes, that's the feel, those firm muscles. Zhu Shiyi glanced at the time; it was 2:30 AM. Pan Yue should be asleep by now. She kissed his cheek, gently lifted the covers, got up, and went into the bathroom to shower. Afraid of disturbing Pan Yue, she turned the water on very low.
A quick shower took nearly twenty minutes. After brushing her teeth and changing into her pajamas, Zhu Shiyi went back to bed. The man who should have been asleep in bed moved closer, putting one arm around her neck and using a bit of force.
Zhu Shiyi turned to hug him back: "Aren't you asleep?"
Only then did they realize that Pan Yue wasn't wearing a shirt.
"I'm awake." Pan Yue coughed softly, his voice a little hoarse, perhaps because he had just woken up.
"It's still early, aren't you going to sleep?"
"Not really sleepy." Pan Yue turned to her and pinched her cheek.
Zhu Shiyi responded softly, silently wrapping her arms around his strong, muscular arm. The muscles in his upper arm were perfectly smooth, and even in the darkness, one could feel the bulging veins beneath his warm skin.
She couldn't help but press her upper teeth against his chest, her lips itching slightly. She casually opened her lips and bit his upper arm. Pan Yue's shoulder twitched slightly, but he didn't flinch. She became even more willful, sticking out her tongue and licking it, sucking on it like she was eating candy.
Any sound in the darkness was so clear.
Zhu Shiyi heard it clearly, and Pan Yue swallowed.
A slight throbbing in her heart, a tingling, electric sensation propelled her forward. Zhu Shiyi shifted her body, leaning halfway over him, tilting her head back slightly, and taking the protrusion in the man's throat into her mouth.
She felt something inside her lips move from side to side.
The back of his neck was grabbed by a large hand.
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com